Page 99 of Betrayed in Blood
Then, the voice came through the earpiece. “Simone is down.”
They listened for another thirty seconds before Ginger started to run, but Lucas tugged her back.
“We’re not done with our assignment.”
“It’s Simone.” Ginger pulled away.
“What can we do?” Lucas wanted to go to Simone, but they weren’t healers.
“I’m a donor.”
That stopped him. Sometimes, he forgot she was human, especially when she fought like she did.
“Go. We’ve got this.” Roberta nodded to the other five on their team, who had gathered but were still monitoring the house for movement.
Ginger didn’t hesitate. She was flying across the yard with Lucas right behind her, catching up and passing her before she made it to the back door.
He stopped before opening it. “The house hasn’t been cleared. I go first.”
She opened her mouth, must have recognized his own stubbornness, and nodded.
He wasn’t sure where Simone was, but he found two downed vampires on his way toward the foyer. Neither of them were team members. Doors along the way had been smashed open or ripped from their hinges, giving him a clear view to confirm they were empty.
The first team member he ran across was holding his arm, probably waiting for it to heal based on the blood dripping on the floor.
“Where’s Simone?” Lucas asked.
“The kitchen.” His eyes glowed with the beast. “It doesn’t look good.”
Ginger must have had enough of the stalling because she pushed past him before he could stop her. They’d all memorized the floor plan, and she didn’t hesitate as she cut through a room with a second exit that led directly to the kitchen.
Neither of them could have anticipated what they found. Four team members were in the kitchen. Levi, the vampire from the city safe house, was holding Simone’s head in his lap while the others stood at the door perimeters, moving aside as Ginger barreled her way through.
There was blood everywhere. It wasn’t all Simone’s. Three other vamps lay headless on the floor. But glancing at Levi, his pants were soaked in what must have been her blood.
“The house was just cleared, but the healer has been delayed. One of the wolves was shot, and she went to them first since she couldn’t get in the house.” He stopped and listened to something coming through his earpiece. Sergi must be giving information to specific team leaders since Lucas wasn’t hearing anything.
“It will be another five minutes.”
Lucas nodded and turned in time to see Ginger pull her dagger and slice her wrist. When she knelt next to Levi, he opened Simone’s mouth. Blood dripped into her mouth, and Ginger pushed down on her forearm, forcing the blood out faster.
“Is she hurt anywhere else besides her head?” Ginger asked.
It was obvious she had a head injury based on the blood-soaked kitchen towel wrapped around it.
“Her arm took a good slice. It’s healing but not quickly.”
“Show me.”
Another towel had been lying over Simone’s right arm, but Lucas had assumed it was to replace the head bandage, which clearly needed to be changed. When the towel lifted, Simone’s shirt had been cut away from the wound. It was a long cut, but he couldn’t tell how deep from where he stood.
Ginger dripped her blood over it until Levi nodded. He grabbed a fresh towel from behind him and covered the arm. Ginger then placed her wrist on Simone’s mouth.
“Drink, Simone. Drink.”
Lucas knelt next to Ginger, helpless to do anything. Everything they could do was being done. All he could do was watch Ginger’s tears fall as she tried to save her friend.
ChapterThirty
